Rome
Media Contact: Susana Salguero, [email protected], +507 60 905 032
On Thursday, October 23, King Charles III and Queen Camilla will make an official State visit to the Vatican, where they will be received by Pope Leo XIV. The visit—confirmed by both the Holy See and Buckingham Palace—marks a historic milestone in Anglican-Catholic relations, centred on two profound themes: Christian unity and care for our common home.
As part of this landmark event, representatives of the Laudato Si’ Movement (LSM) will be present, including Kelly Claire Nwachuku, member of the LSM Board of Directors, and two young Laudato Si’ Animators, symbolizing the growing intergenerational and global commitment of the Catholic community to ecological conversion and action.
At 12:00 pm local time, Pope Leo XIV will lead an ecumenical prayer for the care of creation in the Sistine Chapel, joined by the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, and King Charles III. The event will be followed by a private meeting in the Sala Regia between Pope Leo and key actors in environmental advocacy—including Church leaders, business representatives, and faith-based organisations such as LSM—highlighting the shared moral responsibility to safeguard creation.
Shared Commitment to Climate Action
This visit comes at a pivotal time, as faith communities around the world prepare for COP30, to be held in Belém, Brazil, in 2025. The Laudato Si’ Movement’s COP30 campaign, part of the broader People’s Determined Contributions (PDCs) initiative, invites individuals and institutions to take concrete action for climate justice where political commitments have fallen short. his global effort is a fruit of the recent Raising Hope Conference, held in early October 2025, which gathered faith leaders, scientists, and activists at Castel Gandolfo to launch a new wave of moral and practical action for our common home.
“Faith communities are uniting to raise hope and act boldly,” said Kelly Claire Nwachuku, representing the global movement. “As we prepare for COP30, the visit of King Charles and Pope Leo reminds us that caring for creation is both a spiritual and moral call that transcends borders and traditions.”
For further inspiration, readers can revisit Pope Leo’s reflection, Return to the Heart, shared during the Raising Hope Conference here.
A Symbol of Unity and Hope
The royal visit coincides with the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’ and the Jubilee Year theme “Pilgrims of Hope.” During the afternoon, King Charles will be named Royal Confrater of Saint Paul at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, a title that recognises his long-standing dedication to interfaith dialogue and environmental stewardship.
“The joint witness of Pope Leo and King Charles sends a message of unity and shared responsibility,” said Sister Alessandra Smerilli, Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. “Our hope is that this encounter will inspire renewed cooperation between peoples of faith in responding to the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor.”
The Fruit of Collaboration: The Laudato Si’ Action Platform
A key element of the meeting’s environmental dimension is the Laudato Si’ Action Platform (LSAP)—a Vatican-backed initiative developed in collaboration with the Laudato Si’ Movement and other partners. The LSAP has already inspired and mobilised more than 20 million Catholics across 140 countries, helping families, parishes, schools, and institutions commit to seven practical goals for ecological sustainability and integral human development.
“This platform embodies what Pope Francis called for in Laudato Si’: to unite our concern for creation with tangible actions that renew our relationship with God, with others, and with the Earth,” Kelly added.
Looking Ahead to COP30
As the world turns its attention toward COP30, the Laudato Si’ Movement continues to mobilize communities globally to commit to the People’s Determined Contributions—citizen-led climate commitments grounded in faith and justice.
For more information about the COP30 campaign and the Laudato Si’ Action Platform, visit:
👉 raisinghope.earth/action
👉 laudatosiactionplatform.org